A brand new collection of short stories by James Howell will be published next month.​Guinea Pigs is a dark anthology which examines three seemingly unconnected people as they hurtle along separate paths towards depravity, chaos and tragedy.

Howell, who has achieved worldwide success with his infamous Disturbed Girl novels, said: “The characters in the three stories appear to have nothing in common, apart from their decaying minds and deviant behaviour, but a common thread unites them all. This thread will gradually be revealed as the stories develop and it is going to form the basis of my next full length novel.”

He added: “After exploring a single character (Hannah Harker) over the course of the Disturbed Girl trilogy, I wanted to create some new characters from different walks of life. The anthology features a miserable local council employee in suburban England, a female banker on a trip to the Gambia and a cynical policeman who specialises in hate crimes and domestic violence.

“I won’t reveal what connects them, but, as with Hannah Harker, the stories blur the boundaries between right and wrong, explore how the mundane can become warped and serve up scenes to curdle your stomach and make you blush.”

Guinea Pigs will be published by Amygdala Press in paperback and all major eBook formats.​The first 100 paperback copies ordered through this website will be signed by author James Howell.

Who are the Guinea Pigs?

The Man Who Couldn't Laugh [Guinea Pig 1]Colin Jones is a neurotic suburban nobody who has a serious problem with his new neighbours. Spurred on by what he reads in the tabloid press, how far will he go to get them evicted?

A Wild Life [Guinea Pig 2]A damaged woman travels to Africa to escape from her life of sex and violence. As she touches down in the Gambia, she has no idea that her nightmare is just beginning.

Red Demon [Guinea Pig 3]Detective Josh Brody works in the bleak underbelly of south London trying to protect victims of hate crime. It is a grim world, and he might be closer to the misery than he realises.

The Black Page (TBP) is a collective of cutting-edge European writers, designers, photographers and musicians who are working together to create new multi-media literature.

TBP started life in 2013 when Creative Director Erik Zwiers invited author James Howell and other artists to Antwerp, Belgium, to brainstorm ideas.

Following this meeting, Howell wrote Birth of a Disturbed Girl, a shortened version of his debut novel, leading Dutch photographer Look J Boden shot a series of Hannah Harker portraits, and UK electro artist Himuro Mansion produced a soundtrack.

Zwiers has now established a brand new Development House near Amsterdam where a team of creatives are using these various multi-media elements to work on design concepts for Birth of a Disturbed Girl.

Zwiers also met with the Haarlem Events Foundation in Holland recently and The Black Page will be the lead concept at the Haarlem Literary Festival in June 2015. This will bring together people from across the Netherlands, Belgium and further afield as TBP reaches out to a global audience.

Boden, who has been working with Disturbed Girl author James Howell on an international multi-media project called The Black Page, shot the images with model Sharon Elslander at locations around his home town of Vlaardingen, near Rotterdam.

He said: “My work is about telling stories with pictures, and this project offered an opportunity to create a visual interpretation of a story that has already been written.

“Sharon was a little nervous in the beginning as some of the scenes are intense, but I think she did an amazing job and it was good working with her.”

Author Howell said: “Look is an artist who likes to push boundaries. I’ve long admired the way he portrays extremes through portraits and conceptual images, and I love how he has used his camera to bring Hannah Harker to life.

“His style has precisely captured the tone of Disturbed Girl, and in Sharon Elslander he has unearthed someone who possesses the beauty and confidence of Hannah, but also her vulnerability and inner darkness.”

Check out the Hannah Harker photos and discover more of Look’s work on his website at www.lookjboden.nl

May 29, 2014 - The Guinea Pigs are coming﻿Violence, sex and debauchery will be returning to your
bookshelf this year with the publication of James Howell’s brand new anthology
of short stories.Guinea
Pigs is the follow-up to Howell’s internationally successful Disturbed Girl trilogy, and it will be
published by Amygdala Press in late 2014.
The anthology will include three separate stories about
everyday people who slide into depravity. The characters seemingly have nothing
in common, apart from their decaying minds and deviant behaviour, but a common
thread unites them all.
This thread will be revealed over the course of the
anthology, and it will form the basis of Howell’s next full-length novel, which
is provisionally set for publication in late 2015.
James Howell said: “With Disturbed Girl I explored one character in great depth over the
course of three novels. I thoroughly enjoyed taking Hannah Harker on
increasingly twisted adventures, but I reached a point where I needed a break
from her. There may come a time when I’m ready to revisit her extraordinary
life, but for now I want to create new characters.
“Guinea Pigs gives
me the opportunity to examine three different people from various walks of
life. As with Hannah Harker, I will blur the boundaries between right and wrong,
explore how the mundane can become warped and serve up scenes to curdle your
stomach and make you blush.
James added: “The stories in Guinea Pigs will work as standalone portraits, but the overall
anthology is essentially an extended prologue to my next full-length novel. I’m
still in the process of mapping out exactly how that novel will unfold, but the
early indications are that it will be utterly insane!”GuineaPigs is not due to be published until
December 2014, but Disturbed Girl subscribers will be able to get the first
short story in the anthology completely free of charge as early as this summer.﻿If you have not already become a "Disturbed Accomplice" you can subscribe for free on the Disturbed Girl website.April 3, 2014 - 50,000 Facebook fans﻿﻿A huge milestone has been reached today with the number of Disturbed Girl fans on Facebook breaking the 50,000 mark.

Author James Howell said: "I
remember reaching 100 fans on Facebook, so to get to 50,000 is a bit
unreal. I want every fan to know how grateful I am for their continuing
support, and for the wonderful comments and reviews they have left."

James is currently working on new writing projects, while Hannah Harker's legacy lives on with the recent launch of the Disturbed Army,
a community for everyone who celebrates originality, free-thinking
and counter-culture. The Disturbed Army goes beyond Hannah's adventures
and gives exposure to exciting and raw new creative talent across a
range of different arts.

March 13, 2014 - Mobilising the Disturbed ArmyA counter-cultural revolution begins today with the launch of the Disturbed Army.The Disturbed Army is an international community for everyone who rejects the orchestrated world of mass media, consumerism, social obedience, enforced routines and suppressed ambition. In this new section of the website, there are blogs from Hannah Harker, forumsfor you to talk to other fans, and a unique discover area where you can learn about new artists, or even create your own page.

Everyone who signs up to join the army will get exclusive access to special content. Our premium subscriber option enables Hannah's most loyal followers to become Disturbed Warriors. ﻿

Hannah Harker, anti-hero of the Disturbed Girl novels, said: “The Disturbed Army aims to unite people who believe in originality, creativity, pleasure, adventure, discovery and living life on their own terms without regret. “This is a hub where people can meet others who refuse to conform, and discover books, films, music, magazines and blogs that reflect these values.”You can find out more and explore the new content here.January 30, 2014 - James Howell talks to the press about travellingIn tonight's Evening Echo newspaper, author James Howell answers questions about his favourite travelling memories and research trips abroad. Take a look here.January 25, 2014 - Press interview with James HowellThis weekend's Evening Echo newspaper includes an in-depth, double-page interview with Disturbed Girl author James Howell. Take a look here.

December 2, 2013 - We wish you a disturbed Christmas** EXCLUSIVE LIMITED OFFER ** - throughout December we are offering a 50% DISCOUNT on any paperback bought through the official website, plus FREE POSTAGE and all copies will be SIGNED by author James Howell. That's just £3.99 for the perfect gift for all your friends and relatives! We wish you a disturbed Christmas.

November 12, 2013 - Supporting typhoon relief efforts in the PhilippinesThroughout November, £1 from the sale of every Disturbed Girl novel will be donated to UNICEF to help with relief efforts across the Philippines following Typhoon Haiyan. Please visit our online shop here

October 29, 2013 - Get a signed personal message for your electronic booksAuthor James Howell has joined the Authorgraph website, so you can now get a signed personal message from him for your Disturbed Girl eBooks.

The service is completely free, and works for any eReader device. Visit James' Authorgraph page today to request your message.

October 10, 2013 - LIMITED OFFER, signed books availableEXCLUSIVE LIMITED OFFER FOR CUSTOMERS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM - The first 100 paperback copies of A Disturbed Girl's Redemption purchased from this website will be personally inscribed and signed by author James Howell.

Purchase your copy now at our online shop.October 7, 2013 - Official worldwide launch of A Disturbed Girl's RedemptionThe hotly-anticipated finale of James Howell’s stunning Disturbed Girl trilogy, A Disturbed Girl’s Redemption, is published worldwide this week by Amygdala Press.The third instalment of the cult novels sees former journalist Hannah Harker forced into a relentlessly brutal chase across Europe as her search for love, sanity and salvation becomes a sickening marathon of depravity.Author Howell says: "For nearly five years, Hannah has kept me locked in a world of savage violence, lesbian sex, drug abuse and psychopathy. She has emotionally drained me and I can't wait to come up for air."

Since the first novel A Disturbed Girl’s Guide to Curing Boredomwas published in 2011, Harker’s harrowing, sexual and violent exploits have attracted an army of fans. More than 15,000 copies of the novels have been sold globally, and the official Facebook page has attracted over 46,000 followers. A Disturbed Girl’s Guide to Curing Boredom follows the story of the local reporter as she gradually grows insane in her quest to find excitement at all costs. In January 2013, it was named 7th in UKTV Really channel’s top 10 must-read erotic novels of all time.The follow-up, A Disturbed Girl Implodes, continues Harker’s demented adventures and was published by Amygdala Press in May 2012.For the final barbaric showdown, A Disturbed Girl’s Redemption, Harker is put through an unspeakable nightmare that pushes her far beyond the limits of physical, mental and emotional endurance. James Howell’s experiences while working on a local newspaper in Essex, England, and on national newspapers in London, inspired the adventures of anti-hero Harker.Howell says: “The first novel sees Hannah transformed from a fairly normal young woman into a psychopathic terrorist as her attempts to find a cure for her boredom backfire hideously.“In the second novel she stumbles into the middle of an apocalyptic plot that threatens the very future of mankind. Any last remaining shred of normality in her character is systematically erased and she is left physically broken, mentally mutilated and emotionally exhausted.“For the final part of the trilogy she is offered a route to redemption. She is so damaged at this point that it may be beyond her, but with so much at stake she is forced to summon one last surge of strength.”

Howell adds: “There is a return to some of the themes that I explored in “Curing Boredom” - particularly the media, personal responsibility and the trials of everyday life – and expect plenty of danger, sex, violence, exotic locations and action. Boundaries will be pushed, nothing will be predictable and by the end of Hannah’s story I hope that readers will be left breathless and in shock.”

Daniel Harding from Amygdala Press says: “I think it’s fair to say that everyone who has read the first two Hannah Harker adventures has been captivated by this extraordinary young woman. We get so many insights into her psyche, but still she remains something of an enigma, and this is what has kept readers hooked.

“This third and final part brings her rollercoaster journey to a conclusion. Nobody will be able to predict how it ends, but without a doubt the story will be unlike anything you have read before.”In late 2012, London-based electronic music artist Mush No Candy collaborated with Howell and produced a unique soundtrack to accompany the novels, which was the subject of a BBC radio programme.Howell, Mush No Candy and Amygdala Press are now involved with a pan-European multimedia project called The Black Page, which is due to launch in early 2014.For more information, interviews or images please email media@disturbed-girl.com or call 07921 361 856. Please also visit www.amygdala-press.com

October 5, 2013 - "Redemption" now released for NookNook users can now download "A Disturbed Girl's Redemption" for their device.

Readers in the UK can download the final Hannah Harker from the link here while readers in the US can download it from Barnes and Noble at the link here.

September 19, 2013 - "Redemption" available on more electronic formatsA Disturbed Girl's Redemption is now for sale on Kobo and iTunes.

March 25, 2013 - Title of third "Disturbed Girl" novel announcedThe third novel in the Disturbed Girl trilogy will be titled "A Disturbed Girl's Redemption", it was announced today.

The final installment of Hannah Harker's story is currently being written by author James Howell and is due to be published by Amygdala Press in summer 2013.

January 25, 2013 - "Curing Boredom" hits top 10 list of must-reads by TV channel"A Disturbed Girl's Guide to Curing Boredom" has been named in the top 10 must-read erotic novels by UKTV's Really channel.

Placed at number 7 in the list, the reviewer says the novels have "gathered an army of online supporters on the strength of its lesbian exploits and savage storylines" and there are "some eye wateringly intimate details of lady-on-lady action".

January 18, 2013 - Unique "Disturbed Girl" album launched todayCan books have a soundtrack? Well the “Disturbed Girl” series now does, thanks to a unique collaboration with London-based electronic artist and producer Mush No Candy.

Mush No Candy, aka Joe James, describes his music as “a mixture of dirty electro with an eclectic drop of violent youthful bashing”. The six-track album Hannah’s Mix is an ear-twisting blend of beats and screams inspired by James Howell’s novels.

James explained: “Joe is a big fan of the Disturbed Girl novels and he sent me some of his music to listen to. I thought it was on a different planet – it’s like the deranged love child of Aphex Twin and Crystal Castles – so I asked him to put down some tracks using the books as inspiration.

“The mix he has come up with is a rollercoaster that matches the madness and melancholy of Hannah Harker’s life. If you try reading my books and listening to Joe’s music at the same time, I’m fairly sure that your head will melt.”

January 8, 2013 - 30,000 fans sign up to get DisturbedThe new year has got off to a bang, with more than 30,000 fans now signed up to the official Facebook pagefor the Disturbed Girl novels.Thank you to everyone for their continued support, and keep an eye out for news on the third and final part of the trilogy over the coming weeks.

December 28, 2012 - "Implodes" now avaiable on Kobo and Apple formats"A Disturbed Girl Implodes" is now available on iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch through the Apple iBookstore. It is also available for Kobo.Please visit the shop on this website for links.

November 19, 2012 - "Curing Boredom" arrives on Nook!"A Disturbed Girl's Guide to Curing Boredom" has been made available in Nook eBook format, just in time for Christmas.We are working hard to get "A Disturbed Girl Implodes" distributed across the various electronic platforms too. It is currently on Kindle, but we hope to include Nook, Kobo and Apple versions over the next few weeks.

June 13, 2012 - "Curing Boredom" now available through iStore"A Disturbed Girl's Guide to Curing Boredom" is now available on iPad, iPhone and iPod touch at the apple istore.Please visit this link.

May 31, 2012 - A Disturbed Girl Implodes published worldwide todayThe sequel to last summer’s cult novel “A Disturbed Girl’s Guide to Curing Boredom” is published today by Amygdala Press.

“A Disturbed Girl Implodes”, by James Howell, continues the dark and twisted adventures of former journalist Hannah Harker as she battles international adversaries, alcoholism and her own psychosis.

Joining the chaos in this latest instalment is a beautiful but fragile Brazilian aid worker who has uncovered a hideous experiment being carried out by a sinister pharmaceutical company, and a young Japanese gangster desperate to find a cure for his mother’s delusions.

The paths of the three strangers collide in an extraordinary orgy of violence, sex and vodka as together they come face to face with the dark heart of pure evil.

Mandy Sullivan, Operations Director at Amygdala Press, said: “We really weren’t sure what the reaction would be to the first Disturbed Girl novel, but the Facebook fan page really took off and there are currently more than 3,500 fans worldwide, with nearly 1,000 online sales.

“We looked at the feedback from readers and it was evident that Hannah Harker is a very strong character who has captured the interest of people, so we spoke to James Howell about developing her story.

“James had some brilliant ideas and the result is A Disturbed Girl Implodes, which is, quite frankly, even more deranged than the original.”

James Howell added: “Whatever you think of Hannah as a person, you can’t help but be lured into her world to find out what the hell she is going to do next. She doesn’t play by any rules, she is extremely vulnerable and she is constantly haunted by the consequences of her actions so there is really no predicting how her story will end.

“I’ve introduced some fresh characters to the sequel and the plot is very different to the original, but there is still plenty of sex, violence and chaos to keep fans happy.”

The novel is available at http://www.disturbed-girl.com and on Amazon worldwide in paperback and Kindle formats. It will be released in other electronic formats over the coming weeks.

May 15, 2012 - "Curing Boredom" to be released in new electronic formats"A Disturbed Girl's Guide to Curing Boredom" will be available at the end of May through B&N Nook store, Apple's iBookstore and iTunes, plus Kobo books.The novel is already available on Amazon Kindle via this link.

April 10, 2012 - Release date for A Disturbed Girl Implodes"A Disturbed Girl Implodes" will be published in paperback worldwide on May 31, 2012.

February 7, 2012 - Follow latest news from author James HowellYou can now follow the latest news from Disturbed Girl author James Howell on Twitter and Facebook

January 29, 2012 - A Disturbed Girl ImplodesThe title of the next Hannah Harker adventure will be "A Disturbed Girl Implodes".Due for publication by Amygdala Press in spring 2012, the novel follows former journalist Hannah Harker as she flees from the authorities in the wake of a terrorist atrocity which has shocked the world.

Joining the chaos this time is a beautiful Brazilian aid worker on the brink of a breakdown, and a young Japanese gangster who must risk everything to try and cure his mother's psychosis.

As the bodycount rises, the vodkas get downed and the sex gets seedier, the paths of these three strangers will converge and together they will come face to face with evil itself.

September 14, 2011 - Hannah Harker will return! Hannah Harker is set to unleash more chaos and carnage on the world in a sequel to this year’s A Disturbed Girl’s Guide to Curing Boredom, author James Howell announced today.

Hannah remains her own worst enemy, but in the latest twist to her already twisted life she will face even greater battles with the demons in her head and the actual adversaries that stand in her way.

The action will again be global, with Japan, Brazil, Switzerland and Dubai among the countries set to feel the shockwaves left in her wake.

James Howell said: “Whether you love her or hate her, Hannah possesses an astonishing magnetism that drags you deeper and deeper into her world, even when you know you should escape.

“Her life is intense and unpredictable – a constant tightrope with life on one side and death on the other – and she is ruthless, cruel and completely selfish. But she is also strong when she needs to be, intelligent, determined and beautiful.

“On one hand she feels she should die for the atrocities she has committed, but on the other she hopes that if she can stay alive long enough she will discover a path that leads her to redemption.”

Howell added: “Whatever she does next you know that it won’t be boring. Her boredom is well and truly cured now, and when I received a letter from her the other day it sounded as if her life has taken an even more insane change of direction.

“She has now asked me to travel to Geneva, where she says she plans tell me something that will shock me to the core. If I come back alive I will write the next chapter of her story.”

A release date has not yet been announced, but keep an eye on this website and the official Facebook page and Twitter over the coming months for updates and a very special competition.

July 23, 2011 - "Disturbed Girl" now available on KindleThe Kindle version of "A Disturbed Girl's Guide to Curing Boredom" is now available through Amazon. Please visit www.disturbed-girl.com/buy-now.html for more details and links.

July 4, 2011 - "Disturbed Girl" released in the United StatesA Disturbed Girl's Guide to Curing Boredom is now available for customers in the United States.Publisher Amygdala Press has signed a contract with Lightning Source to print on demand and distribute the novel directly to US readers.Visit www.disturbed-girl.com/buy-now.html to purchase the novel in US dollars using Paypal.

A Disturbed Girl’s Guide to Curing Boredom, by debut novelist James Howell, already has a growing army of online fans, even though it is only released for the first time on Thursday.More than 1,200 people worldwide have signed up to the Facebook fan page prior to publication by the independent Amygdala Press.

With the novel launching in electronic formats and paperback, the story of the rise and decline of journalist Hannah Harker will reach a global audience and promises to be the underground hit of the summer.

Author James Howell said: “Hannah Harker will be loved by some readers, and hated by others, but her story will force everyone to look at their own life and confront some very uncomfortable questions.

“Her actions and the consequences will sicken many people, but the underlying motivation behind what she does is simply to live a happy and rewarding life instead of being trampled into dull mediocrity by rules, authority and social convention.

“Everyone is capable of achieving more than they currently do, and hopefully Hannah Harker will provide a twisted inspiration for people to wake up and set their goals much higher.”

Mandy Sullivan, Operations Director at Amygdala Press, said: “There seems to be a growing demand for novels about strong, complex and off-the-wall female characters and the word-of-mouth interest we have seen across social media for A Disturbed Girl’s Guide to Curing Boredom has identified a very clear audience for us.

“Readers are really going to engage with the character Hannah Harker and we see this as just the first in a series of extreme and shocking adventures for her.”

June 11, 2011 - New release date and distribution detailsThe release date for A Disturbed Girl's Guide to Curing Boredom has been brought forward.UK customers will be able to buy the novel exclusively through the website www.disturbed-girl.com from June 30th.For customers in the United States, the novel will be available to buy through Amazon from July 4th. It will produced in paperback and Kindle formats.

May 26, 2011 - Free download of prologue to "Disturbed Girl"The prologue to A Disturbed Girl's Guide to Curing Boredom is now available as a free download.This prologue has been written by Hannah Harker to introduce herself and the rest of the novel.To download a non-typeset Word document click here.

May 23, 2011 - "Disturbed Girl" published on August 1, 2011A Disturbed Girl's Guide to Curing Boredom, the new novel by James Howell, will be published by Amygdala Press on August 1, 2011.The "harrowing, savage and sexual" account of journalist Hannah Harker's rise and decline will be available through Amazon.Follow the latest news at www.disturbed-girl.com